Means for preserving fish and other marine life while on long trips by motor vehicleor boat



E. L. WEST 2,233,564 MEANS FOR PRESERVING FISH AND OTHER MARINE LIFE WHILE March 4, 1941.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR PRESERVING FISH AND OTHER MARINE LIFE WHILE N LONG TRIPS BY MOTOR VEHICLE OR, BOAT My invention relates to means for preserving fish and other marine life used by fishermen while on long trips by motor vehicle or boat.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a novel device for preserving fish and other marine life which is so constructed and arranged that the fish or the like are adequately supplied with oxygen introduced into the water in which they are contained.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described so constructed and arranged that foul air is withdrawn and the liquid aerated. I

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described which is simple in construction, durable in use, efl'icient in operation and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claim and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my invention illustrating the latter connected to the manifold of an engine.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail enlarged sectional View of the upper side section of the container and illustrating the arrangement of thetube with re spect to the nipple.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of connection as applied to a manifold, the latter being shown in section,

In practicing my invention, as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawing, I provide a container 5 having a closed bottom 6 and an open top 1. Arranged within the container is a tube 8' fixed to the inner face of the side wall thereof, the lower end of said tube being angled and terminating superjacent the bottom 6. The upper end of the tube 8 is fashioned with a right angularly disposed section 9 extending through the side of the container ,subjacent the top thereof and communicating with the atmosphere. The outer end of the section 9 is closed and the under side fashioned with a V-shaped inlet port l0 whereby air is introduced into the tube 8. The top of the 50 container 5 is provided with a cover I I, the latter being provided with a gasket I2 to effect a tight fit with said container, both the top of the container and the cover ll being of an oval configuration.

55 Between the top 1 and section 9 of the tube 8,

the side of the container is provided with an outlet connection or nipple IS, the outer end of which is threaded and receives thereon one end of a flexible tube H, the opposite end of which is threadedly connected to a T l5 interposed in 5 the windshield wiper conduit I6, the latter being connected to the intake manifold I! of an engine (not shown). Obviously, operation of the engine serves to exhaust air from the container 5 through the tube l4 and connection i3. 10

When the container 5 is transported, for instance from a motor vehicle to a motor-boat, the tube I4 is disconnected from the nipple l3 and the nipple I3 closed by a cap I8 threaded thereon 15 a illustrated in Figure 3. In instances where the manifold I! of the engine is not equipped with a windshield wiper conduit and connection, the manifold is provided with a nipple IQ for connection with the tube I 4. When the tube It is disconnected from the nipple IS the latter is closed by a cap 20 threaded thereon as clearly illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing.

In use, the container is provided with water, the level of the latter being subjacent to the section 9 of the tube 8 and fish or other suitable marine life to be preserved and transported is introduced into the water. When the container is thus supplied with fish or the like, the outlet connection I3 is connected to the intake manifold ll of the engine and the latter operated, thereby exhausting foul air from within the container and between the level of the water and cover ll. When the air is thus exhausted from the container, fresh air will be drawn into the bottom of the container through the tube 8 and aerate the water therein and supply the container with suflicient oxygen to maintain the fish therein in a live condition. Air thus introduced in the container Serves not only to aerate the water but to agitate the same as it is drawn towards the top of the container. It is to be understood that the bores of the tube 8, nipple l3 and T l5 or the nipple I 9 are each of a diameter to effect proper operation of the device and without interfering with the proper functioning of the engine.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a simple and efficient device whereby fish and other marine life may be preserved in a live condition on long trips.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined to the herein described use therefor as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is therefore to be understood that the means through which air is exhausted from said container when said top is sealed to said container, a tube within said container and having a lower end terminating adjacent the bottom of said container, and an upper end formed with a section extendingthrough the side or and without said container and subiacent said connection whereby when air is exhausted from the container through said connection air isintroduced into the bottom of said container through said tube to aerate water within-the container and below said section.

1 ELDER L. WEST. 

